Encroachers target Besant Nagar beach, dig foundations for buildings

CHENNAI: In a blatant beach grab, encroachers have occupied vast stretches of prime Besant Nagar beach behind Kalakshetra compound, and started building concrete structures using earthmovers, truckloads of cement and blue metal.
Officials as well as the ward 179 councillor said they did not know about the land grab going on openly 40m from the waterline, clearly in violation of all CRZ norms.
The activity has been underway for some time as deep foundations have been dug for buildings. Two roads have been laid and a borewell has been sunk.
All this near the Arupadai Veedu Murugan temple. Officials said they would issue a stop-work notice if construction was illegal.